Harrow remain firmly in the relegation mire and this defeat has left them perilously close to the trapdoor with just two games left.

Middlesex County Cricket League Division Two: Harrow lost to Shepherds Bush by 70 runs

Harrow remain firmly in the relegation mire and this defeat has left them perilously close to the trapdoor with just two games left.

Batting first, Shepherd's Bush scored 252 for five and declared on a good batting track. They lost their first wicket with the score at 63, Theo Modeste having bowled Shani Kamalia for 31.

Watts played a solid knock of 77 and he was well supported by Padbury as Shepherds Bush turned the screw. Del Terblanche added a quick-fire 37 not out at the end and they declared on 50 overs.

Harrow made their usual poor start, as Wasim Aslam went for two with the score on 21. Richard Bennison (21) joined Nik Ruparlia (49) and together they moved the score onto 60 for two, but another wicket fell quickly.

Darren Crook came to the wicket to push the score along with 33 and Amit Shah joined in with 28 not out. Harrow looked more than capable of batting out for the draw, but the pressure of getting 10 points in their fight against relegation was too strong.

Harrow now sit four points above Wembley and five above second-from-bottom North London.

It was a different story however for Harrow II, who chalked up a massive 186-run win over Enfield to keep their Division Three promotion push on track.

Harrow declared on 267 for four from 44 overs. Graeme Overy hit a superb unbeaten 128, supported by Waqas Hussain (93). Enfield never got going in their reply and they could only manage 81 all out in 34 overs.

Harrow's third team are just nine points off an automatic promotion spot having overcome Winchmore Hill by 38 runs. Boyd Elkins struck 54 of his side's 228 all out before Clint Wolverson (five for 91) helped dismiss Hill for 190.

Wembley drew with Richmond

WEMBLEY are just about keeping their head above water, having ensured a point at home to promotion-chasing Richmond.

The visitors were polished off for 215 but failed to dispose of Wembley, who dug in to finish on 172 for five after 51 overs.

R Jobanputra hit 74 for Wembley's second string but it was not enough to prevent them slipping to an 81-run defeat at Uxbridge.

A Bangash (eight for 56) was instrumental in sending them packing for 139, which was nowhere near the 220 Uxbridge had earlier declared on for the loss of seven wickets (Austin Ambrose 64*).

Wembley thirds' promotion charge suffered a setback after they lost to North Middlesex by seven wickets. Wembley, who are now just nine points ahead of third-placed Harrow, made 222, with D Richards contributing 75.

However, North Middlesex made easy meat of the target thanks to a sublime century from Richard Verity (104*).

Premier League: Stanmore drew with Finchley

STANMORE need to replicate this battling display in their final few games if they are to beat the drop into Division Two.

Third-in-the-table Finchley posted a competitive total of 267 for seven and declared after 62 overs, with Brad Townsend (80) and Steve Selwood (77) on particularly fine form. Jake Milton was Stanmore's best bowler, with figures of five for 74.

In reply, Stanmore's Hamish McCarthy crashed 107 runs but it was not enough to lead them to victory. They finished on 249 for nine off 60 overs, to snare a point.

Stanmore's second team had no such problems as they humbled Southgate by 145 runs in the 2nd XI Division One.

Rishi Pandya (60) and Jimmy Chialafus (52*) helped them to 250 for six declared before they saw off their opponents for 105 in the 43rd over.

The third team meanwhile are now 11 points clear of the bottom two in the 3rd XI Division One after a stunning eight-wicket triumph over third-placed Richmond.

T Stone starred with the ball, taking seven for 45 as Richmond subsided to 102 all out. Stanmore cantered to the target in 13.2 overs.

Division Three: Bessborough beat Uxbridge by two wickets

BESSBOROUGH produced a heroic display, upsetting the odds and giving themselves a huge chance of avoiding relegation.

With two games of the season remaining, they are now 13 points clear of rock bottom Wycombe House.

Uxbridge were polished off for 123 before Ash Menta (61) helped Borough over the finish line in 47.1 overs.

Anil Sharma was the bane of Bessborough's second string, and led Edmonton to a 175-run win. Sharma crashed 148 not out and they declared on 286 for four, before he took four for 26 to help dismiss Borough for 111 in 30.3 overs.

The thirds drew with Harrow Town after failing to get rid of Harrow's last man. S Vase hit 57 of Bessborough's 173 total, but Chris Taylor (67) helped Town take a winning draw as they finished on 160 for nine.

Kenton beat Hornsey by 76 runs

KENTON produced a stunning recovery to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against mid-table Hornsey.

Kenton looked resigned to posting a woeful score at 47 for seven until N Patel (88) started the turnaround and took them to 195 all out.

With their tails up, Kenton demolished their opponents for 119 in 37.3 overs and are now just eight points off the second automatic promotion spot.

Kenton's second string are also in contention in their Division Two, despite a four-wicket defeat to Finchley. Kenton declared on 247 for nine in 50 overs (S Butt 63) but Finchley got over the finishing line in 40 overs thanks to good knocks from J White (71) and J Sakar (61*).

The thirds, meanwhile, lost to Ickenham by three wickets, with M Shafi (75) and B Mannicann (54) providing the bulk of their 185 total. Woods took four for 26 but Ickenham reached the target in the 49th over.

Harrow Town lost to Enfield by 75 runs

HARROW Town should contemplate sending a note of congratulations to Bessborough, whose surprise win over Uxbridge ensured Town did not lose touch with Uxbridge following this defeat.

Town remain one point shy of second-placed Uxbridge, but have Highgate and Kenton breathing down their necks now that both have regis-tered victories at the weekend.

Chasing 226 for eight declared, Town were never in the hunt and fell for 151 after 44 overs. Cameron Rossere provided a brief highlight for Harrow as he claimed a hat trick for 34.

Town's second string remain perilously close to the drop-zone, having been sunk by two wickets at home to Barnes. The visitors posted 240 for eight (A Walters 80) but Harrow crumbled for 234 despite A Shafi's (116) efforts.

The thirds drew with Bessborough after a gusty last-wicket stand. S Vase hit 57 of Bessborough's 173 total, but Chris Taylor (67) helped Town take a winning draw and they finished on 160 for nine.

PARKFIELD took a huge stride towards safety with a nervous victory over promotion hopefuls Berkhamsted.

The tension eased when Robin Willis' fourth ball in the penultimate over dismissed Berko's number seven batsman with just six runs required for victory.

Inserted into bat, Parkfield got off to a steady start, with openers Ian Schmid and Dave Sheppard putting on 59 before the latter was stumped on 22 after 25 overs.

Parkfield then lost a couple of quick wickets but Robin Willis (54) managed to reach his half century before he was caught with Parkhurst's score on 180 for nine. Schmid finished with 39 while Ian Dix (17) and Dipak Shah (14) also chipped in.

Berko got their reply off to a flyer after lunch, scoring six runs an over and raced effortlessly to 100 for two. However, some delightful bowling from Willis (three for 33), Tim Garnons-Williams (three for 34) and Schmid (two for 48) ensured a vital win.